Grandview police nab hit and run suspects

GRANDVIEW - Grandview police have since last Friday investigated three traffic mishaps, two of which were hit and run accidents that occurred yesterday (Sunday) and early this morning.

Just before 9:30 p.m. last night a resident reported a vehicle hit a pole outside an establishment on West Second Street. Witnesses reported seeing a red vehicle leave the scene at a high rate of speed and officers responding pursued the vehicle south on Grandridge Road. The vehicle stopped at the corner of Grandridge Road and Pleasant Avenue.

The driver, identified as Guillermo Ochoa-Rivera, 20, of Grandview, was taken into custody on a requested charge of hit and run.

Just after 3 a.m. this morning officers were alerted to a hit and run involving a vehicle that went through a fence in the 400 block of East Second Street. The driver, according to police, fled the scene.

Grandview Assistant Police Chief Mark Ware said, "Officers arriving on scene were given a description of the driver by witnesses. He was located in Eastside Park and arrested."

That driver was identified as Jose G. Garcia, 21, of Grandview. He was taken into custody on requested charges of DUI, and hit and run.

"We were fortunate to have the help of witnesses in both these cases. The incidents would not likely have been solved, at least so quickly, without the assistance of concerned citizens," said Ware.

Officers were also yesterday just before 1:30 p.m. alerted to an alcohol incident at the eastbound entrance to I-82 at exit 73. A male juvenile connected to the report was located and taken into custody on a requested charge of minor in consumption. Further details were not available.

Grandview police, too, since last Friday responded to a report of disorderly conduct, a traffic hazard, three domestic violence incidents, a report of vandalism, four automatic alarms and three requests for assistance from other agencies.